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" Sept. 6, 1932; l.. s. BRACH LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed My 11, 192e LEON5. BRHCH A TTOHNE Y Patented Sept. 6, 1932 f UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICELEON S. BEACH, l' y.':LAS'JI ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, BYLIESNEASSIGNMENTS, n v 'TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY n LIGHTNING.annnsrnn Application led lay 11, 1928. Serial No. 277,008.

cated. Associated with the stud 5, is a spaci This` invention `relatesto a 1i htning arrester which is particularly adapte foruse inconnection with signal circuits used by railways. y

In s uch systems, it is old and common practice to connect between whatis generally referred to as the line wire and the instrument, a chokecoil, at the same time providing a spark gap` from the terminals towhich the choke coil is connected, to ground. Furthermore, it iscustomary to provide additional terminals on vthe arrester to which eachof the rails are connected, the spark gaps being suitably vassociatedwith these terminals, whereby electrical char es on the rails which areinsulated, may be issipated.

It is the object of my present invention to provide la. new and moreefficient arrangement in an arrester for performing `these functions.Other `ancillary objects will be clear to one skilled in this art aftera study of the specification taken in connection with the annexeddrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view looking down on 'the ltop of the arrester withthe protecting cover line 3--3 e ure 2 with certain parts removed.

.eso

vFigure 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the spark gap plates. s

Figure 6 is a .view on the line 6-6 of Figure.

In the drawing, in which the same numbers refer to correspondingl partsin the various views, 1 is a base mem er of suitable insulatingmaterial, such asy porcelain. Holes 2 are rovided for mounting the baseon any suita- Ele support. Base 1 has a top recess 3 and a bottom recess4. A row of terminal studs 5 to 9 inclusive, is carried `in alignment bythe base 1. vTo the end terminals 5 and 9are connected the extremitieslof a choke coil 10, one extremity 11 ,being shown in Figure 4. The

- end 11 of the wire included in the construction of the chokeV coilextends through a passageway and is bent around ,the studA 5i as indiingwasher 12 and a lock nut 13 is provided to securelyk anchor the terminalwire 11 against the boss 14.

Positioned between the boss 14 and the spacing washer 12, is a lug 15comprising part of an arrester plate 16,. The arrester plate 16 restsedgewise in a horizontal groove opening into thetop recess 3.y At pointsadjacent the studs 6, 7, and 8, the arrester plate is provided withbent-over portions 17 that are constructed with a plurality ofserrations 18 which serve as spark gaps cooperating with spark gapmembers 19 that are associated with the terminals 6, 7, and 8. The sparkgap; members 19 are preferably of some hard refractory conductinglmaterial such as carbon or carborundum. y

Preferably, there is associated with these spark gap members 19, metalcollars 20 which are slightly longer than the thickness of the members19, so as toy take the clamping strain of the nuts 13 and washers 21. ,f

As will be seen from Figure 1, there are two of the spark gap plates 16used-*one on. each side of the row of terminals and extending intocooperative relationship with all of the terminals, except the-one at.the opposite end to which the Lspark gap plate is attached. e

It also will be seen from Figure 1, that the top recess 3 is formed by arim 22. Fitting within the rim 22, as is more clearly seen in Figure A2,is a cover plate 23 which closes the recess and prevents dirt andmoisture, etc., from collecting therein. This cover plate is of any.suitable material, preferably mica. The conductors leading to theterminals are adapted to be clamped between the clamping nuts 24.

v As shown, the line and instrument wires may be connected to eitherterminals 5 or 9, the ground wire to terminal 7, and the rail wires tothe terminals 6 and 8. Since the choke coil is inserted between the lineand instrument terminals of the arrester, a very satisfactory arresteris obtained when only one spark plate is used. Under this condition, thespark plate is connected to the'y line terminal post and if desired, mayextend into` spark gap relationship with the instrument terminal post.In either arrangement, the operation of the arrester is substantiallythe same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A lightning arrestercomprising; a base of insulating material havinga recess, a choke coil located in said recess, a plurality of terminalsmounted in 'a single row Aon said base, said choke coil being connectedbetween the end terminals, plates carried in edgewise position by thebase on opposite sides of a majority of the terminals and havingbentover portions extending toward said terminals Aforming spark gapstherewith, said plate being connected one to each of said end terminals.

2. A lightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating material havinga recess, a choke coil located in said recess, a plurality of terminalsmounted in a single row on said base, said choke coil being connectedbetween the end terminals, said base having parallel grooves therein onopposite sides of said row of terminals, plates positioned edgewise insaid grooves, one plate being connected to one of the end terminals andthe other plate to the other end terminal, said plates extending alongthe grooves and having discharge portions arranged in spark operativeposition with respect to all terminals, except that terminal to which itis connected and the other end terminal.

3. A lightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating material havinga recess, a choke coil located in said recess, a plurality of terminalsmounted in a single row on said base, said choke coil being connectedbetween the end terminals, said base having parallel grooves therein onopposite sides of said row of terminals, plates positioned edgewise insaid grooves, one plate being connected to one of the end terminals andthe other plate to the other end terminal, said plates extending alongthe grooves to at least a point opposite the centrally located-terminaland having discharge portions arranged in spark operative position withrespect to the centrally located terminal and any other terminal betweensaid centrally located terminal and the terminal to which the plate isconnected.

ll. A lightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating materialhaving top and bottom Y having parts extending into the top recess atleast adjacent the other terminals, except the end ones, to form sparkgaps therewith and VLtr/e514 ing into the top recess, plates positionededgewise in said grooves, one plate being connected to one Vof the end-terminals and the other plate to the other end terminal, said platesAextending along the grooves and having discharge portions arranged inspark operative position with respect to at least two other terminals,except the end terminals, and a protecting cover of suitable insulatingmaterial fitting on said base over the terminals to close said toprecess.

6. A lightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating material havingtop and bottom recesses, a choke coil located in the bottom recess, saidtop recess having a row of bosses arranged therein but spaced from theside walls of the recess, terminals extending upward from said bossesabove the plane of said side walls, said choke coil being connectedbetween the end terminals, said base having a pair of grooves arrangedone on each side of said row of bosses, washers of refractory conductingmaterial associated with the terminals located between the endterminals, a plate positioned in each groove and connected one to eachend terminal and having parts arranged and positioned to form spark gapswith said washers and a protecting cover of suitable insulating materialfitting on said base over the terminals to close said top recess.

7. A lightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating material havingtop and bottom recesses, a choke coil located in the bottom recess, asingle row of terminals extending upward from the top recess, said chokecoil being connected between the end terminals, means located within thetop recess for forming spark gaps on opposite sides of those terminalslocated between the end terminals, said means being plural and connectedone to each of the end terminals and a protecting cover of suitableinsulating material fittin on said base over the terminals to close saidtop recess.

8. A lightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating material havinga recess, a choke coil located in said recess, a plurality of terminalsmounted on said base in a single row, said choke coil being connectedbetween two of said terminals, at least one spark gap plate carried bythe base in edgewise position and .having a lug turned over andconnected to a terminal to which one end of the choke,

coil is connected, said plate having bent-over portions formin sparkkgaps wlth the remainin termina s of the arrester.

9. A ightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating material havinga recess, a choke coil located in said recess, a single row consistingof more than three terminals mounted on said base, said choke coil beingconnected between two of said terminals, at lo least one spark gap platecarried by the base in edgewise position and having a lug turned overand connected to a terminal to which one end of the choke coil isconnected, said plate having bent-over portions forming spark gaps withthe major number of the remaining termin als.

10. A lightning arrester comprising; a base of insulating materialhaving a recess, a choke coil located in said recess, a plurality ofterminals mounted on said base in a single row, said choke coil beingconnected between two of said terminals, at least one spark gap platecarried by the base in edgewise position and having a lug turned overand con- 25, nected to a terminal to which one end of thel choke coil isconnected, said plate having bent-over portions forming spark gaps withat least two other of said terminals.

, In testimony whereof, I aix m signature. LEON S. RACH.

